Improvement in truss-bridges



n. c. Bowes.

Truss-Bridges.

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DANIEL o. EowEE, 0E TROY, onro.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRUSS-BRIDGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 14ml S1, dated June 24, 1873 application led May 24, 1873.

To all whom tt may concern Be it known that I, DANIEL C. BowER, of Troy, in the county of Miami and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful linprovernent in Bridges, of which the following is a specilication:

Figure l is a top view of my improved bridge. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same taken through theline a' x, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of the same taken through the line y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail section of the central part of the top chord. Fig. 5 is a detail section ot' a part of the lower chord.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention has for its object to furnish an improved bridge, simple in construction, strong, durable, and not liable to sag in the center. The invention consists in an improved bridge formed of the lower chord, the top chord, the dovetailed blocks, the bindingrods, the triangular blocks, and the braces constructed and arranged in connection with each other, as hereinafter fully described.

A is the lower chord, and B is the upper chord. The chords A B are made double, treble, or quadruple, according as less or more strength is required.` In the spaces between the strands of the chords A B are placed dovetailed blocks C, through which blocks pass the vertical rods D to bind the chords A B to each other. The rods D also pass through triangular blocks E, against which the ends of the braces F rest. The upper ends of the two central braces F rest against the central block E of the upper chord B, and their lower ends rest against the blocks E of the lower chord upon the opposite sides of the center ot' said chord. The braces F upon each side of the central braces Fare placed parallel with said central braces, as shown in Fig. 2, the upper end of each outer brace being directly above the lower end of the adjacent inner brace. The braces F are made as wide or nearly as Wide as the chords A B.

By this construction the bridge has no counter-braces, and the weight is thrown from the center ofthe bridge from brace to brace to the abutments, so that the bridge cannot sag in the center. The blocks C and rods D are placed between each two strands of the chord, so that a double chord will have one set of said rods and blocks, the treble chord will have two sets ot' rods and blocks, and the quadruple chord will have three sets.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- An improved bridge, formed of the lower chord A, the top chord B, the dovetailed blocks C,the binding-rods D, the triangular blocks E, and the braces F, constructed and arranged in connection with each other substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purposes set forth.

DANIEL C. BOWER.

Witnesses:

(l. H. GULBEETSON, GEO. O. OLYDE. 

